Front 242
| Front 242 | |
|---|---|
 Front 242 at an appearance in Plant 2 in Leipzig (2007) |
|
| General information | |
| Genre (s) | Breakbeat , electronica , electronic body music |
| founding | 1981, 1997 |
| resolution | 1995 |
| Website | http://www.front242.com/ |
| Founding members | |
| Daniel Bressanutti (alias Daniel B.) Dirk Bergen |
|
| Current occupation | |
| Jean-Luc De Meyer Patrick Codenys Richard Jonckheere Tim Kroker |
|
| former members | |
| Daniel Bressanutti Geoff Bellingham Dirk Bergen |
|
Front 242 is one of the first electronic bands of the 1980s and is considered a figurehead of Electronic Body Music (EBM) during this time . To this day they are named as inspiration or even as a direct model for numerous EBM and electro combos.
Band history
The early days (1981-83)
Founded in October 1981 in Brussels ( Belgium ), Front 242 were originally a duo consisting of Daniel Bressanutti (alias Daniel B.) and Dirk Bergen. In the same year they released their first single, Principles . A year later, Patrick Codenys and lead singer Jean-Luc De Meyer joined them, and the single U-Men and the album Geography were released .
Geoff Bellingham was hired for live performances, but was replaced shortly afterwards by Richard Jonckheere (aka "Richard 23"). Dirk Bergen left the band and took over management. In the line-up of De Meyer / Codenys / Daniel B./Richard 23, the band became known.
The paramilitary demeanor of the band caused discussions from the start. Camouflage nets, bulletproof vests and so-called “glacier glasses” were typical utensils. This appearance was often understood as fascistoid , but should be an artistic game with symbols. Although the band repeatedly emphasized that the name Front 242 had no specific meaning, rumors continued to circulate for a long time, for example that the name was a show of solidarity with Palestine and the first emerging intifada . Accordingly, the origin of the group's name goes back to UN resolution 242 , which defines the frontier between Israel and the State of Palestine.
The Successful Years (1984-89)
With the 1984 released album No Comment the band's sound became more aggressive, and digital staccato sequences of the DX7 - synthesizer and emulator II samples has become a trademark of the band. On this album Front 242 also used the term "Electronic Body Music" for the first time, which was later picked up by labels such as Antler Records and Animalized / SPV and became the name of an entire style.
In 1987 the album Official Version was released and the band had two successful club hits with Masterhit and Quite Unusual . Front 242 signed a deal with Wax Trax! , whereupon many earlier recordings were republished, including the rarities collection Back Catalog . In the same year Front 242 appeared as the opening act on the Music for the masses tour of Depeche Mode and was known to a larger audience for the first time.
The fourth long player Front by Front (1988) was able to surpass the success of Official Version , the singles Headhunter and Never Stop became very popular, and Headhunter in particular is still considered a club classic today. The headhunter video clip was shot by the Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn , who became known for his work for Depeche Mode or U2 .
The decline (1990-1997)
Front 242 have now been signed by the major label Epic Records, but the 5th album Tyranny For You could not build on the success of Front by Front , although the video for the single Tragedy For You could now also be seen on MTV .
In 1993 Richard 23 left the band following the Lollapalooza Festival. The albums 06: 21: 03: 11 Up Evil (06: 21: 03: 11 = FUCK, the numbers correspond to the positions of the letters in the alphabet) and 05: 22: 09: 12 Off (05:22:09: 12 = EVIL), which however could no longer follow on from old successes. So it happened that singer Jean Luc De Meyer left the band after the live LP Live Code and the remix album Mut @ ge.Mix @ ge 1995.
Reunion and Front 242 today
In 1997 there was a reunification, and Front 242 went on the Re: Boot tour. Due to the great demand, the new recordings were put on CD in 1998 as Re: Boot . The band was signed to the German Zoth Ommog and Metropolis (USA). The Re: Boot performances continued.
In October 1998, the new edition of their best-known hit Headhunter was released as Headhunter 2000 and in numerous remix versions by various artists on the scene. In 2000 Front gave 242 other concerts. In 2001 Front 242 played at the Alive Festival in St. Vith (East Belgium) . In 2002 there were only two festival appearances on the plan. However, the acclaimed Euro-Rock gig proved the band's unbroken popularity. Towards the end of the year they went back to the studio.
In 2003 the rumors and speculations came to an end: the EP Still & Raw was released on XIII Bis-Records . In April 2003 the album Pulse was released .
In 2006 the band celebrated their 25th anniversary in the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels with numerous fans on two days with two different performances and with guest artists such as TET - Travailleur En Trance , The Hacker, Terence Fixmer and David Carretta. The new show, which had previously been tested on a US tour, was presented, which represents a departure from Re: Boot and presented older pieces again in their original form.
In 2007 Front 242 played at various festivals in Europe.
In the meantime Front 242 are with the label Alfa Matrix, whereby the publications are mostly limited to reprints.
After Front 242 toured successfully for a number of years, the band announced on January 23, 2012 that they would be taking an undefined break. With that she canceled the performances at the Amphi Festival and the Nocturnal Culture Night.
In 2015 they could be seen live again, including at the Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig.
On March 18, 2017, Front 242 headlined the E-Tropolis Festival in Oberhausen (Turbinenhalle).
On August 12, 2018, they headlined the M'era Luna Festival 2018 in Hildesheim.
In November 2018 they played for the last time with Daniel Bressanutti, who then left the band.
Discography
Studio albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 AT
|
 CH
|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1991 | Tyranny (For You) |
DE28 (12 weeks) DE |
- |
CH10 (7 weeks) CH |
UK49 (1 week) UK |
US95 (12 weeks) US |
First published: January 1991
|
| 1993 | 06: 21: 03: 11 Up Evil |
DE68 (11 weeks) DE |
- | - |
UK44 (1 week) UK |
US166 (1 week) US |
First published: May 1993
|
| 05: 22: 09: 12 Off |
DE64 (6 weeks) DE |
- | - |
UK46 (1 week) UK |
- |
First published: August 1993
|
|
| 1998 | Re-Boot: Live '98 |
DE62 (2 weeks) DE |
- | - | - | - |
First release: July 1998
live album |
| 2003 | Pulse |
DE94 (1 week) DE |
- | - | - | - |
First published: April 2003
|
more publishments
- 1982: Geography
- 1984: No Comment
- 1987: Back Catalog (collection of singles)
- 1987: Official Version
- 1988: Front by Front
- 1992: Live Target
- 1994: Live Code
- 1995: Courage @ ge.Mix @ ge
- 2008: Moments ...
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DE
|
AT
|
CH
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1989 | Never stop! Front by front |
DE37 (7 weeks) DE |
- | - | - | - |
First published: March 1989
|
| 1990 | Tragedy For You Tyranny (For You) |
DE49 (16 weeks) DE |
- | - | - | - |
First published: November 1990
|
| 1993 | Religion 06: 21: 03: 11 Up Evil |
- | - | - |
UK46 (1 week) UK |
- |
First published: April 1993
|
More singles
- 1981: Principles
- 1981: U-Men
- 1983: Endless Riddance (EP)
- 1983: Two In One (EP)
- 1984: Live In Chicago (EP, early free supplement of No Comment)
- 1985: No Shuffle
- 1985: Politics Of Pressure (EP)
- 1986: Interception
- 1987: master hit
- 1988: Commando
- 1988: Headhunter (single and EP)
- 1991: Rhythm Of Time
- 1991: Mixed By Fear (EP)
- 1993: Animal
- 1993: Angels Versus Animals (EP)
- 1993: Happiness
- 1998: Headhunter 2000 (4 CDs & 1 "Golden Masters" EP)
- 2003: Still And Raw (EP)
- 2008: First Moment (single)
Side projects
- 32Crash - Jean-Luc De Meyer (together with Len Lemeire and Jan D'Hooghe from "Implant")
- The Art Corporation - Daniel Bressanutti
- Bigod 20 - Jean-Luc De Meyer, on the piece "The Bog"
- Birmingham 6 - Jean-Luc De Meyer
- Cobalt 60 - Jean-Luc De Meyer
- Coder 23 - Patrick Codenys, Richard 23
- Cyber-Tec Project, C-Tec - Jean-Luc De Meyer
- Front Line Assembly - Jean-Luc De Meyer, on the track "Future Fail"
- Gaiden - Patrick Codenys (together with techno producer Steve Stoll)
- Glis - Jean-Luc De Meyer, on the pieces "The Irreparable" and "La Béatrice"
- Grisha Zeme - Daniel Bressanutti, Patrick Codenys
- Holy Gang - Richard 23
- Implant - Jean-Luc de Meyer, on the piece "The Creature"
- LaTchak - Richard 23
- Male Or Female - Daniel Bressanutti, Patrick Codenys
- Ministry - Richard 23, background vocals on "The Nature Of Love"
- Modern Cubism - Jean-Luc De Meyer
- Prosthesis - Daniel Bressanutti, Dirk Bergen
- Punish Yourself - Jean-Luc de Meyer, on the track "Voodoo Virus"
- Red Sniper - Patrick Codenys
- Revolting Cocks - Richard 23
- Speed Tribe - Daniel Bressanutti, Patrick Codenys
- Under Viewer - Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc De Meyer
- Komor Kommando feat. Jean Luc De Meyer- John The Revelator [Depeche Mode cover]
- Haujobb feat. Jean-Luc De Meyer - 'We Must Wait' 2014
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.mindbreed.de/news/front-242-legen-live-pause-ein-auftritt-auf-amphi-festival-2012-abgesagt/
- ↑ PUREVELVET.DESIGN: E-tropolis Festival 2017 | 03/18/2017 - Turbine hall in Oberhausen. Retrieved March 20, 2017 .
- ↑ a b Chart sources: DE CH UK US